muirhead



(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 1.

A. MUIRHEA'D.

SUB MARINE TELEGBAPHY.

No. 577,534. PatentedP eb. 23, 1897.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. MUIRHEAD. SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHY.

'N'ol 577,534. Patented Feb: 23, 1897.

(N6 Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. MUIRHEAD. SUBMARINB TELBGRAPHY.

No. 577,534. Patent d'Peb28, 1897.

(No Model.) I I I I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A. MUIRHEAD. I

- SUBMARI'NB TELEGRAPH'Y. No. 577,534. Y Patented Feb. 23,1397.

(N'oModeU 5Sheets Sheet5.

A. MUIRHEAD.

SUBMAR INB TELEGRAPHY.

No.577,534. I Patented Feb.23,1897.

I fz zsa if m 2 aa G UNrrnn STATES- PATENT Gi nnin ALEXANDER MUIRHEAD,OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

SUBMARI'NIE TELEGRAPHY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,534, dated February23, 1897.

Application file d lgovember 18, 1895. Serial No. 569,323. (No model.)Patented in England March 16, 1894, N0. 5,508 and June 7, 1894,110.11,069.

To all ZUhODI/ it 7mm concern/.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER MUIRHEAD, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at London, in the county of Middlesex, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to theTransmission of Signals through Submarine Telegraph- Cables, of whichthe following is a specification.

Letters Patent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, No. 5,508, dated March16, 1894, and No. 11,069, dated June- 7, 1894, have been granted to meand show subject-matter coinprehended by claims herein made. A

My invention relates to improvements in the mode of automatically makingand breaking the contacts between battery, line, and earth in thetransmission of electric impulses or currents through submarine cablesand is specially applicable to those forms of automatic transmitters,such as the Wheatstone automatic transmitter, in which use is made of astrip of paper with a central line of holes having on either side otherholes which have been previously punched in positions according to'theMorse code and through which side holes the points of levers or rodsconnected to the contact-lever mechanism of the instrument rise and fallas the paper strip travels. The strip is carried along by means of aspurwheel, the spurs or teeth of which engage with the line of centralholes, the spur-wheel being generally driven by an electromotor orclockwork mechanism. The two contact-levers of such an instrument areconnected to line and to earth, respectively, and they oscillate betweentwo adjustable limiting-stops connected to the two poles of theline-battery, respectively. As is well known, the function of thetraveling perforated paper strip is to govern the movements of the saidcontact: levers. In ordinary or what is known as plain signaling themovement of one or other of the levers from the normal position in whichthe cable is connected to earth causes a current in one direction or theother from the line-battery to' pass into the cable,

which current lasts until that lever returns to the normal position,when the cable is again put to earth. By the adoption of what is knownas curb signaling in connection with this mode of transmission anincrease in the rate of progress and an improvement in the character(and therefore in the legibility) of the signals are effected. Curbingconsists in sending after every signal a current of opposite polarity tothat which produces the signal for the purpose of neutralizing theeffect of the previous or signaling current.

My invention has for its object the better government of the movementsof the levers, the improvement and the regulation of the periods of theelectrical contacts made by the levers, and also the provision ofimproved means by which curb signals may be transmitted.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view or elevation,Fig. 2 a sectional elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan, of an automatictransmitter made according to this invention and adapted for plainsignaling. Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively plan and sectionalelevations of a form of instrument adapted for curb sending. Figs. 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, and 17 are detail views; and Figs. 10, 15, and 16are diagrammatic illustrations hereinafter fully referred to.

Automatic transmitters of the character the subject-matter of thisinvention comprise the following principal parts, namely: the means(marked with the numeral 1 in the accompanying drawings) for making andbreaking the electrical contacts for signaling purposes; the means(marked 2) through the intervention of which the parts 1 are actuated;the parts 3, gearing with an electromotor or. other convenient source ofpower and through which the parts 2 and 4 are brought into operation,and, in the case of a curb instrument, the parts 4:, actuated by theparts 3 for the purpose of curbing.

WVhen it is desired to put such an instrument as the present intooperation, the previously-punched paper strip is fed between the rollerJ and the spur-wheel s, and, the machine having been set running, thepaper is carried by the spur-wheel 8 along the platform .9. The sideperforations in the paper strip traverse over the points of the rods R,and the presence or absence, as the case may be, of such perforationsadmit or prevent one or other of the rods rising and so causing thecorresponding levers to be moved from their contact 1 to the one Thearrangement of the part 2 is such that immediately after one or other ofthe rods R of the instrument has or may have risen such rod is returnedto its normal position; but the electrical contact is prolonged upon 00until another portion of the part 2 operates to return it to its normalposition upon y. In this way impulses of positive and negative sign aresent into the cable and the cable afterward put to earth. It is a greatadvantage in an instrument of the character now being described to havethe moment of operation of the part 2 capable of variation or adjustmentand that while the instrument is running. My present invention providesvery efficiently for this being accomplished with great precision.

I11 an instrument constructed for curb signaling extra contacts orarrangements are provided, located between the above-mentioned contacts00 and 7 and the battery-terminals, whereby in the interval during whichone or other of the contact-levers is kept applied to its limiting-stopa; the battery is reversed in polarity until by means of part of theapparatus marked 2 in the drawings the contact-lever which has beendeflected onto its limiting-stop .r is returned to its normalresting-point upon the limiting-stop I/. In this way eachsignaling-impulse is followed by a curb, and according to my presentinvention means are provided whereby the duration of the curb relativelyto that of the signaling-contact is effectively adjusted and that whilethe instrument is running. The rendering of the curb capable ofadjustment while the instrument is running is of great advantage in aninstrument such as herein described, since to obtain the most rapidworking and the best signals the proportion of curb to signaling-currentmust be determined with great exactness. Moreover, the condition of acable is liable to constant variation owing to atmospheric and otherinfluences, necessitating the readjustment of the curb to secure thebest results. This cannot be done unless the curb mechanism is ca pableof ready adjustment.

According to one method of carrying this invention into practice the twosets of lever contact mechanism of the automatic transmitter are eachconstructed by preference in two parts or arms L L mounted on separateaxes e and f, as shown in Fig. l or independently on the same axis. Onlyone pair of le vers is visible in Fig. 1, the other pair beingimmediately behind and precisely similar to the pair shown, as seen inFig. :3. Both the arms L li are shown crank-shaped,the crankarm of Lbeing pulled by the spring b in the direction to bring lever L intocontact with lever L The crank-arm of L plays between the adjustablelimiting-stops x and y, which are connected, respectively, to the twobattery-terminals and against one or other of which such crank-arm iskept firmly applied by means of the roller or jockey springs 5', or bymeans of a strong permanent magnet placed so that iron extensions of thearms L play between its poles N S, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1.The levers L L may, however, be composed of any number of parts, as inthe well-known Wheatstone transmitter, but so arranged that though theyall move together as one in the one direction the parts corresponding toL are free to return independently of L L remaining carried over intocontact with the limiting-stop :1; until it is replaced by mechanismhereinafter described.

Mounted on an axis a, which is suitably geared to that of the spur-wheels, as shown, so as to revolve once on the passage of every tooth or spurof the spur-wheel, that is to say, on the passage of every space in theperforated paper strip, is a cam G. (See Figs. 2 and On this cam trailsa lever or pawl L connected to a bar g oscillating on an axis 7 and towhich is connected a spring g. The bar carries a pin 19, which, owing toits movement being governed by the rotation of the cam G, comes intocontact with one or other of the arms L, which may have become raisedowing to the attached rod It or its equivalent having entered aperforation in the paper strip. A second cam (a graduated cylindricalone) G2 on the same axis as and immediately behind the cam G, operatesthrough the medium of a lever L, similar to the lever L in constructionand to which a pin 13 is attached to return one or other of the levers Lto the normal position on the limiting-stop y after deflection. Fig. 1shows the one set of lever contact mechanism in the position it assumesimmediately after the entry of the rod B. into a perforation of thepaper strip and before either cam had come round to actuate either ofthe levers L L". The instant of movement of the lever L and consequentlythe return of the levers L", is dependout upon the position of the leverL" on the face of the cylindrical cam G It is advantageous that theposition of the one relatively to the other should be capable of readyand accurate adjustment and that while the instrument is in operation.This may be effected by rendering the lever L capable of movementlaterally along the face of the cam G by means of the tangent-screw T,working in the saddle-piece (5, which rides on the axle 5; or the cam Gmight be arranged in asimilar manner to be capable of lateral adjustment, the lever L being capable only of radial oscillation.

The position of the pins p p relatively to the levers L L is accuratelyadjusted by means of the screws w w, which screws are also useful tocorrect for any alteration of distance between the ends of the leversUL" and the cams G l on which the levers rest, through wear and tear ofparts. This latter wear and tear can be greatly diminished by IIO fixingsmall steel rollers, as seen in Fig. 9, at the ends of the levers L Lwhich work on the cams Gr G respectively.

In some instruments made according to this invention each contact-leveris constructed of one arm only, as shown at L in Fig. 4, that is to say,in one piece, carrying the rod R loosely jointed to it at the end nextto the spur-wheel, which rod is kept just clear of the paper strip bythe action of the springV and by the pin 19 which is operated by thegraduated cam G as seen in Fig. 3. The rods R are free to move forwardafter entering a perforation and are pulled back by the spring 77. ontothe stop it, after the lever L has been reset by the pin 19 The lever Lwith pin 19 working on the graduated cam G is employed in this case toregulate the move ments of the single-arm contact-levers in the mannerabove described with reference to Fig. 3, as in the case of the compoundlevers L L and the regulation can be effected without stopping thetransmitter.

Obviously the levers L of Fig. 4 or the levers L L of Fig. 1 might becontrolled in their movements by means of cams coming into directcontact with them instead of through the intervention of the pin 19 inthe former case or pins 19 p in the latter case. Such an arrangement inthe case of single levers L is indicated in broken lines in Fig. 4,where the cam G is geared and adjusted relatively to the spur-wheel, sothat it comes into direct contact with the incline on the lever at anyrequired moment after the commencement of a space in the perforatedpaper strip. Figs. 5 to 8 illustrate a convenient method of constructingan adjustable cam. Two outside faces are braced together by thesteppiece 0 and keyed or otherwise secured to the axle 0 to which motionis imparted. Located between these two outside faces is asimilarly-shaped single cam-disk c adjustable radially with reference tothe outside faces and suitably secured in position, as, for example, bythe screws in the slots 0 By adjusting the position of the part c thelength of the step of the cam, and consequently its period of work, maybe varied.

A simpler method of adjusting the action of the cam is that shown inFig. 9 and is an adaptation of the mechanism of the graduated cam Clwith itslever L as hereinbefore described. In place of the pin pprojecting from the lever L a separate riding framepiece or arm 7,pivoted at 8 and resting on the levers to be acted upon, is employed.The graduated cam G is mounted upon an axle suitably geared to that ofthe sp ur-wheel and which extends beyond the side plate of theinstrument to a point above the levers L. The lever L is free tooscillate about the axis 9 and its free end is between the ridingframepiece '7 and the cam G At its axial end it is provided with agroove or slot 10, into which works a disk 11, forming part of aninternallythreaded sleeve 12, passing over a tangent screw 13. Byturning the milled edged nut 14 of the sleeve the lever L is adjustedlaterally along the riding frame-piece 7 and brought for a longer orshorter period of each revolution under the influence of the cam G Thecam G on which the lever L works is adjusted relatively to thespur-wheel s, so that the ends of the upright rods R or theirequivalents can only enter the perforations in the paper strip at theinstant when such perforations are opposite to them.

Upon a previously-punched paper strip being passed between the roller Jand the spurwheels and the instrument set into motion the spur-wheelwill cause the paper strip to traverse over the ends of the rods R. Themechanism is so timed that at the moment when a perforation is or mighthave been immediately over one or other of the rods R the position ofthe cam G issuch as to allow the needle-levers to rise. If a perforationis present, the needle or rod R rises therethrough and the contact-leverleaves its stop y and rests upon the stop 00. If there is no perforationin the paper strip, then the needle or rod R rests momentarily on theundersurface of the paper strip and the contact-lever will not have beenmoved. Immediately afterward the cam G operates, either directly orindirectly, to lower the needle or rod R clear of the paper strip, but(premising that there has been a perforation) the contact-lever stillremains on the stop 00 until (at a moment dependent upon the position ofthe lever L relatively to the cam G the cam G operates to return thecontact-lever to its normal position upon the contact y.

Whenever it is required to reverse the sig naling-battery or to sendcurbing currents into the cable during the period of a contact or aspace in the perforated paper, I modify the construction of thetransmitter, as illustrated by Figs. 10 to 17.

Referring first to Fig. 10, on the graduated cam G are adjusted twoangle-levers L and L working against the upright bars K K The two leversL and L are joined up electrically, as shown in the figure, to the coilsof two electromagnets M and N, respectively, andthe local battery B. Tothe armature D of the electromagnet N is attached a lever L workingbetween two spring-contacts g g and limiting-stops K K Theselimiting-stops are connected to the two poles of the line-battery,respectively, and the spring-contacts g g to the limiting-stops x y ofthe automatic trans mitter, between which the contact-arms L L play.When the armature D or its attached lever L is in its normal .ositionthe 8.131111 P c Q armature A with its pin 19 away from contact with thesignaling-levers L when no current flows through the coils of theeleetromagnet M. Vhen the transmitter is running the levers L and U,with the two upright bars K complete, successively, two circuits withthe local battery Bfirst, the one through the coils of the electromagnetN and then that through the coils of the electromagnet M. During everyrevolution of the graduated cam G the first electromagnet, through itsarmature D, moves the lever L and keeps the spring-contacts g over toone side, thus reversing the battery until the end of each revolution.The second electromagnet M after an interval, depending on the positionof the lever L on the graduated cam G (and which is adjustable while theinstrument is in operation, as hereinbefore described, with reference tosimilar parts acting on the lever contact mechanism) draws the pin pagainst that lever L which happens to be deflected on the passage of aperforation in the paper and knocks it back onto the limiting-stop y.

The curbing, instead of being elfected by electromagnetic means, mightobviously be achieved mechanically, and in that case I may prefer torevert to the mechanism hereinbefore described for operating the levercontact mechanism in which the movements of the levers L and L arecontrolled by the two cams G and G Such an arrangement is shown in Figs.11, 19, and 13. In place of the graduated cam G of Fig. 3 for operatingthe lever contact mechanism is substituted a fixed cam G, Figs. 11 and1a, and the graduated cam G is utilized to operate a lever L, Fig. 13,which works between two spring-contacts g g and adjustablelin1iting-stops K K The limiting-stops K K" are connected electricallyto the two poles of the line-battery, respectively, and the springs g gto the limiting-stops a" y, Fig. 1, between which the contact-arms Lplay.

For the purpose of varying the amount of the curb the position of thelever L on the cam Gr may be adjustable by means of a tangent-screw, or,conversely, the lever might, together with the springs (7 g andlimitingstops K K be fixed and the cam G ad j ustable laterally inrelation thereto, but I prefer the first arrangement as being thesimpler in construction and the more prompt in action.

By employing a split battery instead of a single-line battery thespring-contacts g 9 may be dispensed with and the simpler arrangementshown in Figs. 11 and 12 and in perspective in Fig. 14 (anddiagrammatically in Fig. 15, as regards the curbing part of themechanism) adopted, in which the lever L itself plays between the twolimiting-stops K K These limiting-stops K I are connected electricallyto the poles of the split battery B the middle of the battery and thelever L being respectively connected to the limitingstops w y, betweenwhich the contact-levers L play. Fig. 15 illustrates diagrammaticallythe electrical connections between the graduated cam G the lever L, thecontact-arm L and the split battery 1 B L L the two contact -levers ofthe transmitter, are connected to line and earth, respectively. Alongthe length of G the lever L is adjustable by means of a tangentscrew forthe purpose of varying the relative lengths of primary and secondary orcurbing contacts. K is connected to the pole l3 and K to the pole B ofthe split battery B B The contact-point, as shown at L in Figs. 14 and15 of the lever If, is mounted on a spring r in order to give a slightrubbing on the limiting-stop K \Vhen the transmitter is at work, theline and earth levers L L are kept pressed against the limitin g-stopsa; or 7 by j ockey-springs. The cam G as it revolves, puts the lever Linto contact first with K and then with K sending signaling and curbingcurrents alternately to line through the contacts K and K respectively.The position of the wire 2, Fig. 15, on the battery B B can be alteredto get any relative powers of the primary and the curbing currents. Inthis figure the battery is shown divided into two equal parts by thewire 2, so that the curbing current arises from the same number of cellsas the primary current. This arrangement is found to answer well on mostcablecircuits.

Sometimes instead of the graduated cam G I may prefer to employ arevolving comm utator S, Fig. 16, mounted 011 the same shaft as the camsG and G. The spring or roller contact bar L", which rests on thecommutator-wheel S and the two separate and insulated metallic surfacesof such commutatorwheel (marked Z and C) are joined up electrically to asplit battery, as shown, and the two limitingstops at y, between whichthe levers L play in such manner that, during every revolution of thecommutator-wheel S, the polarity of the line-battery is reversed. Theinstant of reversal of the battery is determined by the position of thespring or roller L" on the commutator-whecl S. A tangentscrew, such asshown at T in Figs. 3, 10, and 14, or similar device, may be employed tomove the spring or roller contact bar laterally on the commutator-wheel; or obviously a single-line battery might be reversed bymeans of the revolving commutator, in which case a second spring orroller contact would be necessary.

In order to adapt the mechanism for curbing, as herein described, tothose instruments in which the contact-levers are constructed of one armonly, as shown in Fig. 4-, intermittent motion is given, preferably bymeans of the well-known Geneva-stop-wheel mechanism hereinafterdescribed, to the cam G, which operates the pin 19, so that whenever oneor other of the levers L is deflected on the passage of a sideperforation in the paper strip it is kept deflected during the whole orthe greater part of a period or space of the perforated paper by the pin12 the battery being reversed during such period by the graduated cam G2and its attendant levers.

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' in the spur-wheel.

Sometimes the contact-levers of the automatic transmitter may take theform of light levers pressing constantly on the perforated band of paperand making or breaking contact with limiting-stops, or they may besprings or brushes of wire pressing constantly on the perforated band ofpaper and falling through the perforations into contact wit-h a Wirebrush or cushion ora revolving contactwheel beneath to operate a localtransmitter, as in the various well-known forms of the Bainautomatictransmitter. In these cases, among others,I find it advantageous to giveintermittent motion to the spur-wheel which carries along the perforatedpaper strip by means of mechanism such as the said Geneva-stopwheelmovement, or its equivalent, when it is desired to adapt to them themechanism for curbing, herein described. The Genevastop-wheelarrangement consists, as shown in Fig. 17, of a wheel D, having a singletooth engaging in the notches of another wheel F.

In carrying out the above arrangement the wheel D is mounted on the sameshaft as that which carries the graduated cam G2 and engages with thewheel F, which is mounted on the same shaft as the spur-Wheel and inwhich there are as many notches as there are spurs For every revolutionof the single-toothed wheel the spur wheel is intermittently advancedone notch or spur corresponding with the period of one space in thepaper strip, and during each period the battery is reversed by theaction of the adjustable cam G and its appendages (or by the equivalentmeans of a revolving commutator, Fig. 16, as above described) Wheneverone or other of the armatures of the local transmitter is attracted onthe passage of a perforation in the paper strip beneath one or other ofthe brushes or springs of the Bain transmitter.

.l/Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnitedStates, is

1. In an automatic telegraph-transmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonactuating devices and the lever contact devices adaptedto respectively enter perforations in the traveling ribbon and by theirmovement thus adapted to establish batterycontacts, of a rotating camacting after a determined interval of time to restore the contact-leverdevices to their normal position.

2. In an automatic telegraph-transmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonactuating devices and the lever contact devices adaptedto respectively enter perforations in the traveling ribbon and by theirmovement thus adapted to establish batterycontacts, of rotating camsacting respectively to release that lever contact device that may haveentered a perforation in the traveling ribbon and after a determinedinterval of time to restore the corresponding contact-making device toits normal position.

3. In an automatic telegraph-transmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonactuating devices and the lever contact devices adaptedto respectively enter perforations in the traveling ribbon and by theirmovement thus adapted to establish batterycontacts, of rotating camsacting respectively to keep the lever contact devices clear of thetraveling ribbon except at the moment that a perforation is, or mightbe, immediately over one of them, to release that one that may haveentered a perforation in the traveling ribbon and, after a determinedinterval of time, to restore the corresponding contact-making device toits normal position.

4:. In an automatic telegraph-transmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonactuating devices and the lever contact devices adaptedto respectively enter perforations in the traveling ribbon and by theirmovement thus adapted to establish batterycontacts, of a rotating camgoverning the movements of the contact-lever devices, and means forvarying the operative periods of such rotating cam.

5. In an automatic telegraph-transmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonactuating devices, rods adapted to enter perforationsin the tape, and battery-contact devices controlled thereby, whereby abatteryoontact is effected when a rod enters a perforation in the tape,of means for restoring the rod to its normal position while thebatterycontact is still maintained, and means for operating such contactdevices after a definite interval of time to open the battery-contact,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an automatic telegraph-transmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonactuating devices, of lever contact devices broughtinto operation by said perforated ribbon formed of a plurality of partsmoving as one mechanism in the one direction to establish battery-contacts and means for returning said parts independently one of the otherwhereby the length of the signaling-contacts are rendered capable ofvariation relatively to the earthing period.

7. In an automatic telegraph-transmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbom actuating devices, of lever contact devices broughtinto operation by said perforated ribbon formed of a plurality of partsmoving as one mechanism in one direction to establish battery-contacts,and cams operating to return said parts independently one of the otherwhereby the length of signaling-contacts are rendered capable ofvariation relatively to the earthing period.

8. In an automatic telegraph-transmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonactuating devices, of lever contact devices broughtinto operation by said perforated ribbon formed of a plurality of partsmoving as one mechanism in the one direction to establishbattery-contacts, a cam, a lever or pawl operated thereby, and a pinwhose movements are governed by such lever or pawl serving to return onepart of the lever contact devices IIO while the battery contact is stillmaintained, and a graduated cam, a lever or pawl operated thereby, andanother pin whose movements are governed by such last-mentioned lever orpawl serving after a determined interval of time to reestablishearth-contacts.

9. In an automatic telegraph-transmitter, the combination with theperforatedribbonactuating devices, of lever contact devices brought intooperation by said perforated ribbon formed of a plurality of partsmoving as one mechanism in the one direction to establishbattery-contacts, and one or more cams with levers or pawls serving toreturn such lever contact devices, the moment of return of the lastpartthereof being capable of variation by adjustment of the lever orpawl and the cam relatively to one another.

10. In an automatic telegraplrtransmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonactuating devices, the lever contact devices adapted torespectively enter perforations in the paper ribbon wherebybattery-contacts are established, and a rotating cam serving to restorethe contact-lever devices to their normal position, of means for curbingor reversing the current from the battery during the maintenance of thesaid battery-contact, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In an automatic telegraph-tran smitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonaetuatin g devices, rods adapted to enter perforationsin the tape and battery-contact devices controlled thereby, whereby abatterycontact is effected when a rod enters a perforation in the tape,of means for restoring the rod to its normal position while thebattery-contact is still maintained, means for operating such contactdevices after a definite interval of time to open the battery-contact,and means for curbing or reversing the current from the battery duringthe maintenance of said battery-contact, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

1?. In an automatic telegraph-trailsmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbenactuating devices, of lever contact devices broughtinto operation by said perforated ribbon formed of a plurality of partsmoving as one mechanism in the one direction to establishbattery-contacts, means for returning said parts independently one ofthe other, and means for curbing or reversing the current from thebattery during the maintenance of the signaling-contact, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

13. In an automatic telegraplrtransmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonactuating devices, of lever contact devices broughtinto operation by said perforated ribbon formed of a plurality of partsmoving as one mechanism in the one direction to establishbattery-contacts, cams operating to return said parts independently oneof the other, and means for curbing or reversing the current from thebattery during the maintenance of the signaling-eontact, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

1-l-. In an automatic telegraph-transmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonactuating devices, of lever contact devices broughtinto operation by said perforated ribbon formed of a plurality of partsmoving as one mechanism in the one direction to establishbattery-contacts, a cam, a lever or pawl operated thereby, and a pinwhose movements are governed by such lover or pawl serving to return onepart of the lever contact devices while the battery-contact is stillmaintained, another cam, a lever or pawl operated thereby, another pinwhose movements are governed by such lastmentioned lover or pawl servingto reestablish earth-contacts and means for curbing or reversing thecurrent from the battery during the maintenance of thesignaling-contact,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In an automatic telegraph-trailsmitter, the combination with theperforated-ribbonactuating devices, the lever contact devices adapted torespectively enter perforations in the paper ribbon wherebybattery-contacts are established, and mechanism for restoring thecontact-lever devices to their normal position, of means for curbing orreversing the current from the battery during the maintenance of thesaid battery-contact and means forvarying the duration of the curbing orreversing period, substantially as set forth.

16. In an automatic telegraplrtransmitter, the combination with theperforatcd-ribbonactuating devices, the lever contact devices adapted torespectively enter perforations in the paper ribbon wherebybattery-contacts are established, and mechanism for restoring thecontact-lever devices to their normal position after a determinedinterval of time, of a rotating cam acting to curb or reverse thecurrent from. the battery during the maintenance of the saidbattery-contact, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ALEXANDER MUIRIIEAD.

Vitnesses A. F. SPOONER, O. J. SUMMERS.

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